1
as in knocking
to deliver a blow to (someone or something) usually in a strong vigorous manner
a good carpenter hits a nail just two or three times to drive it in
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bumping
to come into usually forceful contact with something
when she fell on the ice, she hit hard and badly bruised her elbow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in achieving
to obtain (as a goal) through effort
the rock band hit "the big time" with their third album
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hitting
The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive.
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Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
After hitting just 4 of 30 threes against the Pacers, Miami opened 4 for 4 from distance, shot 8 for 16 on threes in the first half and finished 17 for 32.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
Just moments later, the suspects allegedly fired bullets through the door, hitting the woman.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
The driver started to take off when an officer fired three shots, hitting Good once in the head.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Peat continued to make highlight plays in the second half, including blocking a Jace Posey shot at the rim and hitting a key turnaround jumper during the decisive run for the Wildcats.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Jan. 2026
But Raymond was dangerous all night, hitting two posts before scoring, and has four points in his last three games.
—Max Bultman, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Tire tread depth - Checking your tire tread before hitting the road is important, as low or no tread can lead to sliding.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Ju Ju was at his strongest rolling and throwing to his left, hitting Miller for a 43-yard rainbow early, then Sincere Brown (19 yards) and Joseph Williams (13 yards) on CU’s second drive of the second quarter.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hitting
Verb
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The right words can open doors the heart’s been knocking on for a while.—
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Once the buzz starts, fringe brands come knocking.—
Verb
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Bolstering that pair — or, even better, the second pair, and bumping down rookie Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the third — would go a long way toward solidifying the blue line.—
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The notice also says the positions involved aren’t tied to a union, so bumping rights don’t apply.—
Verb
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Put a Monogram on It The key to achieving a personalized home lies in those little details.—
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Fixating on the outcome and then having trouble achieving that goal can be discouraging.—
Verb
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And the good vibes of those wins quickly dissolved with Toronto smacking them around in the fourth quarter of a blowout loss.—
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Malika was now smacking the rug in rhythm.—
Verb
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Bystander video footage that has since gone viral captured a masked federal agent fire multiple shots into Good's vehicle, which then drove up the street before slamming into the back of another car.—
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Convenience store owners are slamming the proposal as restrictive and unnecessary.—
Verb
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Bregman played his first nine seasons with the Houston Astros, winning World Series titles in 2017 and 2022 — although the first of those yielded a sign-stealing scandal that earned Bregman and his teammates plenty of scorn.—
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Miami is just 7-15 against teams with a winning record this season.—
Verb
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Mimicking what happened seven years earlier after the Dallas playoff win in Charlotte, the players ran back outside and took a lap around the stadium, slapping hands with delirious home fans.—
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That means not just the sound of rubber slapping the pavement or the whir of electric motors—the soundtrack of a Formula E race—but something new and artificial or, more generously, bespoke.—
Verb
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
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After colliding with Sanchez’s vehicle, the driver allegedly continued to elude police and struck a recreational vehicle parked on private property.—
Cite this Entry
“Hitting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hitting. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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